Federal Court Basics

Master the structure and function of federal and state courts as translated into diagrams and fast facts.

• Why Two Court Systems?
  Learn why the federal government and state governments have their own court systems.
• Structure of Federal Courts
  See the structure of the federal court system and the pathway to the Supreme Court.
• Comparing Federal and State Courts
  Discover the differences in structure, judicial selection, and cases heard in each system.
• Cases in Federal and State Courts
  Find out what types of cases are heard in federal courts and state courts. How are they different?

Jury Service Basics

Find easy answers to questions about jury service.

• Jury Service in Federal Courts
  • Comparing Trial Juries and Grand Juries
  • Quiz: Qualifications for Being a Juror
  • We the People: The Honor of Jury Service (YouTube.com)

Related Resources

Find more information about the federal courts.

• Understanding the Federal Courts (pdf)
• Federal Courts in American Government
• Inside the Federal Courts (FJC.gov)
• How a Case Moves Through Federal Courts (FJC.gov)
• Federal Courts and the Other Branches of Government (FJC.gov)